Job Stress: Are You at Risk?
Usually nothing is all good or all bad. It usually falls somewhere in between. The more we think of it as “good” the more we view it positively. So it is with work. In fact, something like a job can start out as an enjoyable and personally fulfilling experience and over time change to daily drudgery.
However whether something is positive or negative it can create stress. Work can create “job stress.”
What is the nature of “stressors” at work? They can include stressful deadlines, responsibilities and performance demands. Job stress can easily overwhelm your life.
At a job there are things that are out of your control. They include people being promoted over you, company layoffs and company restructuring.
When this pressure hits you hard then it can force you to expend more energy and possibly hurt personal relationships.
Once a person is embroiled in stressful situations they are a potential target for health breakdowns.
Some potential health problems that may occur include weight problems, sleep problems, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and the possibility of heart disease.
It has been proven that the older you get the more likely you are to get high blood pressure and the problem is as you age you are less and less likely to be aware when your blood pressure rises.
As our bodies become run down, that sometimes leads to burnout which in turn leads to poor job performance and that may lead to depression.
Is there anything I can do?
Of course if you really begin to have problems it makes sense to consult a psychologist.
Other than that some suggestions include taking breaks. It is amazing how simply getting away from your work space for a few minutes can refresh your mind.
If you begin to feel angry then walk away from the situation. Get away from the “hot zone.” If you walk around the office and count to 10 you’ll begin to get some perspective.
Don’t be a perfectionist. It is important to be reasonable in what you expect for yourself. Consistent failure to reach deadlines and other project completion marks will lead to stress. There has to be some successes with the frustrations.
Continue to monitor your job and job description with your boss and/or employer as it relates to the overall mission of the company.
Sometimes what you were originally hired to do is no longer fitting in easily and needs to be revised to help make you more productive and valuable.
Failure to deal with job stress can cause breakdowns, walkouts and ultimately job loss.
Job stress is something that can be monitored and effectively dealt with.
Reference:
“Job Stress,” Fact Sheet, American Psychological Association
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